Kingdom:

(unranke
d):
(unranke
d):
(unranke
d):
Order:
Family:
Genus:

Plantae
Angiosper
ms
Monocots

Commelini
ds
Poales
Poaceae
Phleum
P.
Species:
pratense
Binomial name
Phleum pratense
L.
Timothy-grass[1] (Phleum pratense), is an abundant perennial grass
native to most of Europe except for the Mediterranean region. It is also
known as meadow cat's-tail and common cat's tail [2]It is one of the
phleum genus of about 15 species of annual and perennial grasses.
It is probably so named after Timothy Hanson, a US farmer and
agriculturalist said to have introduced it from New England to the
southern states in the early 18th century. [3][4]. Upon his recommendation
it became a major source of hay and cattle fodder to British farmers in
the mid 18th century.[5]
Timothy-grass can be confused with Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus
pratensis) and Purple-stem Cat's-tail (Phleum phleoides).
Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata)
Plant Species
From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook *
By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth,
J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke
Orchardgrass is an introduced, long-lived, perennial
bunchgrass. It was introduced into North America from

Europe about 1760, and is now common throughout the

continent, where it occupies an important place as a
cultivated grass for hay and pasture. It is commonly found
growing in the shade of orchards, which undoubtedly led to
its most widely-known, common name. In Europe it is called
"cock's foot," which is descriptive of its characteristic seed
head shape.
Description
Orchardgrass is a medium- to long-lived, perennial
bunchgrass with a dense, deep, fibrous root system. Unless
grazed or mowed, it grows in clumps to form tussocks. It is
readily distinguished by its large circular bunches, folded
leaf-blades and compressed sheaths. The soft, light-green
leaves are predominantly basal, with some leaves on the
flowering culm. Seeds are borne in a moderately compact-toopen panicle, 4 to 10 inches long, on a stalk 2 to 5 feet tall.
Tillering occurs almost continuously, and within a single
clump, tillers will be in all stages of development. Total root
production is at least 5,000 pounds per acre in the upper 8
inches of soil. Spring growth begins in late March or early
April, and is not checked by high summer temperatures. This
grass develops about one month earlier than timothy.
Adaptation
Orchardgrass is grown, to some extent, in nearly every state
in the Union. Its greatest abundance is in the Pacific
Northwest and northeastern states. It is not as winterhardy
as some other pasture species, but does well where there is
sufficient snow cover. This grass is adapted to subhumid or
irrigated conditions on medium-textured, well-drained, fertile
soils that are calcareous, neutral or medium acid. Under
dryland conditions, it requires 18 to 25 inches annual
precipitation, with the exception of `Paiute,' which was
specifically selected for its drought hardiness.
Limitations

The lack of winterhardiness limits the use of orchardgrass in

parts of the northern United States and Canada; however,
more hardy cultivars are being developed. Orchardgrass
requires soil with good internal drainage, thriving in low-lying
areas only if well drained. It will tolerate only moderate
salinity, and most cultivars will not tolerate prolonged dry
periods.
Use for Hay

Orchardgrass grows tall enough for easy harvesting of a hay

crop. Although it is aggressive, its bunch habit of growth
allows legumes to grow well in mixtures, provided the
seeding rate is not too high. Orchardgrass grown alone will
give an average hay yield from 1 to 2 tons per acre of hay,
but when grown with clover or alfalfa, yields of 2 to 3 tons
per acre can be expected. When grown with a legume, the
nitrogen requirements are greatly reduced. Regrowth is
rapid, and it will provide good yields as a second cutting or
provide good late summer grazing. Harvesting should be
done when the orchardgrass is fully headed, but prior to
bloom.
Use for Pasture
Orchardgrass is a preferred pasture forage wherever it is
adapted because of its early spring growth and its rapid
recovery following grazing. It has excellent regrowth during
the hot summer months when other grasses are not as
productive. With adequate moisture, fall growth is good. The
best yields from orchardgrass or orchardgrass-legume
pastures are achieved when livestock are allowed to graze
when growth is about 8 to 9 inches high, and taken out when
the stubble height reaches 4 inches. Since the main food
storage of orchardgrass is in the lower stems and leaf parts,
it does not tolerate close and continuous grazing.
Seed Production

The seed of orchardgrass generally matures during the

middle of July. Upon maturity, the seed head will turn yellow,
although the culms and leaves remain green. Seed can be
direct combined or combined from a windrow. If direct
combining, the header should be raised as high as possible
to avoid running the still succulent stems and leaves through
the machine. Seed readily shatters when ripe. Seed yield of
400 to 500 pounds per acre can be expected on irrigated
sites, with reported yields as high as 1,000 lbs/acre. Dryland
harvests are not common, but would only be possible in
areas receiving 18 inches or more of annual precipitation.
Seed yields respond well to nitrogen fertilization.
Facts About Fescue Grass
The fescue grasses are cool season grasses that are
adapted to the transition zone of the USA and into
Canada. The fescue grass species are easily seeded and
include the sub species of broader leaved, bunching grasses
named tall fescue and the group of finer leaved shorter
fescue grass named Fine Fescue. Fine fescue grass species
are creeping red, hard fescue, chewings fescue and sheep
fescue. Fescue grass varieties are drought tolerant, require
less fertilizer, develop a deep root system and thus are eco
friendly. Pennington takes tall fescue up another notch in the
environmental ladder with the release of the Tall Fescue
Blend Smart Seed with natural microorganisms.
Unlike the majority of cool season grasses, Fescue
grasses are shade tolerant and perform well in the lower
areas of the transition zone where the season is too hot for
the other cool grasses and in the area of the transition zone
that is too cold in the winter for the warm season grasses.
Fescue grass seed are also found in many seed
mixtures with grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass and
Ryegrass varieties. You can find information on these fescue
blends in the menu on the right here or in our online store
Seedland.com.

All of the fescue grass varieties share the same

characteristics when planted in the areas of Fescue Grass
Adaptation. The three dominant ones being shade tolerance,
staying green all year, and having very good drought
resistance. Fine Fescues are more cold and shade tolerant
than Tall Fescue, but both are used though-out much of the
Central to Northern USA states.
Fescue grass fills a large gap in the grass field
created by the climate differences that are not fully
defined by zone. Fine Fescues are readily used in mixtures
with the Kentucky bluegrass varieties for summer northern
lawns and with the warm season grasses in winter lawns.
Both Fine and Tall Fescues can remain green all year long in
the cooler climates. They usually will become dormant in the
areas too hot during the summer or too cold in winter and
will show a paler green color at these times. Fescues are also
used in overseeding warm and cool grass lawns.
Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis)
Plant Species
From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook *
By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth,
J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke
Smooth bromegrass is a rapid-developing, long-lived, sodforming, introduced grass with good seedling vigor and
subject to "sod-binding." Smooth bromegrass is the most
widely grown of the cultivated bromegrasses. This grass has
been cultivated since its first introduction into the United
States in the 1880's.
Bromegrass varieties may be divided into two groups,
"northern" and "southern"'. The northern type is believed to
have its origin in Russia, and the southern in Hungary. The
varieties in each group have certain characteristics in
common:
Description

Smooth bromegrass is a long-lived, sod-forming perennial. It

develops a deep root system which accounts in part for its
tolerance to drought and heat. Stems are generally 2 to 4
feet long, but only half the tillers produce stems. It is a coolseason grass that produces leafy, vegetative growth early in
the season and stems with large panicles in early summer.
Bromegrass seedlings may be identified by their long,
narrow, hairy leaves, which usually are gently twisted in a
clockwise direction. As the plant becomes older, the first of
lower leaf sheaths wither and die; the new leaves are
broader and less hairy. A slight growth constriction may
occur on these leaves, forming a configuration resembling an
"M" or a "W." This characteristic, however, is not always
evident. One of the characteristics of this grass is the
rapidity with which it becomes "sod-bound."
Ryegrass (Lolium) is a genus of nine species of tufted
grasses in the Pooideae subfamily of the Poaceae family.
They are characterized by bunch-like growth habits. Also
called tares (even though there is no firm evidence that this
is the same as the plant given that name in English language
translations of the Bible (as in the "Parable of the Tares") vetches are another candidate), these plants are native to
Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but are widely cultivated
and naturalized elsewhere. Ryegrasses are naturally diploid,
with 2n = 14, and are closely related to the fescues Festuca.
Ryegrass should not be confused with rye, which is a grain
crop.
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Subfamily: Pooideae Genus: Lolium
L.
PERENNIAL RYEGRASS LAWNS are one of the best lower
maintenance lawns of the cool season grasses. This is one of
the toughest and most wearable turf covers that can be
grown. Ryegrass is noted for quick germination, shiny green
color, fine texture (newer turf type varieties) and dense
forming sod. High disease and insect resistance helps to

make perennial ryegrass one of the leading choices for lawn

and athletic covers in north America. Used as permanent
turfs and in overseeding warm season grasses while they are
in winter dormancy.
Perennial is also mixed with other cool season
grasses to provide more density to the dominate grass in
the mixture. Perennial ryegrass is often added to Kentucky
bluegrass to add strength and give bluegrass time to repair
while the perennial is in full growth. These two grass species
can be mown at the same height and retain a sod density for
which both are well known. Although bluegrass needs more
fertilizer, the perennial will respond to additional amounts
without any damage.
ANNUAL RYEGRASS is a cool season grass generally used as a
temporary planting for overseeding warm or cool season grasses. Its
uses are many, including temporary pastures, green manure's,
temporary coverage for erosion control, short term use on reclamation
sites, parks, new lawns, and along highway shoulders. Annual ryegrass
may be seeded with other grass mixtures, legumes, clovers and small
grains. Fast germinating, quick growing and requires low to medium
fertilization.
Phalaris arundinacea, sometimes known as reed
canarygrass, is a tall, perennial bunchgrass that commonly
forms extensive single-species stands along the margins of
lakes and streams and in wet open areas, with a wide
distribution in Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North
America.[1] Other common names for the plant include
gardener's-garters in English, alpiste roseau in French,
rohrglanzgras in German, kusa-yoshi in Japanese,
canio-malhado in Portuguese, and hierba cinta and
pasto cinto in Spanish
Description
The stems can reach 2 meters in height.[3] The leaf blades
are usually green, but may be variegated. The panicles are
up to 30 centimeters long.[3] The spikelets are light green,
often streaked with darker green or purple.[4] This is a

perennial grass which spreads underground by its thick

rhizomes
Meadow Foxtail Grass
Alopecurus pratensis
The resemblance that Meadow Foxtail bears to Timothy might be
confusing were it not that the former, being one of the first grasses to
mature its seed, begins to bloom a month before the green spikes of
Timothy appear.
The whole plant is more soft than is Timothy, the leaves shorter and
borne on somewhat inflated sheaths, and the spikes are slightly softer,
broader, and shorter than are the stiff, rough heads of the laterflowering grass.
Meadow all soils but the driest, and after the early growth of May and
June it yields later a luxuriant aftermath.
Meadow Foxtail. Alopecurus pratensis
Perennial, with short rootstocks. Naturalized from Europe.
Stem 1-3 ft. tall, erect, not branched. Sheaths loose. Ligule very short.
Leaves 1'-4' long, 1"-3" wide, flat, rough or nearly smooth.
Spike (spike-like panicle) 1'-4' long, cylindrical, green, densely flowered,
4"-6" in diameter. Spikelets 1-flowered, compressed, 2"-3" long. Scales
3; outer scales acute, equal, united at the base, hairy on the keels;
flowering scales nearly as long as empty scales, thin and translucent,
obtuse, bearing a slender, dorsal awn about 3" long; palet often lacking.
Stamens 3. Stigmas long.
Fields and meadows. May to July.
Bentgrass
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Monocots

(unranked):Commelinids
Order:Poales
Family:Poaceae
Genus:Agrostis L.
Agrostis (bent or bentgrass) is a genus of over 100 species belonging
to the grass family Poaceae[1], commonly referred to as the bent
grasses. Among this group are some of the main traditional lawn
grasses.
Wheatgrass is a food prepared from the cotyledons of the common
wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. It is sold either as a juice or powder
concentrate. Wheatgrass differs from wheat malt in that it is served
freeze-dried or fresh, while wheat malt is convectively dried.
Wheatgrass is also allowed to grow longer than malt is. It provides
chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. Claims about
the health benefits of wheatgrass range from providing supplemental
nutrition to having unique curative properties. Some consumers grow
and juice wheatgrass in their homes. It is often available in juice bars,
alone or in mixed fruit or vegetable drinks. It is also available in many
health food stores as fresh produce, tablets, frozen juice and powder.
Wheatgrass contains no wheat gluten.
Cynodon dactylon (syn. Panicum dactylon, Capriola
dactylon), also known as drv grass, Bermuda grass,
bermudagrass, dubo, dog's tooth grass, Bahama grass,
devil's grass, couch grass, Indian doab, arugampul, grama,
and scutch grass, is a grass native to north and east Africa,
Asia, Australia and southern Europe.[citation needed] Although it is
not native to Bermuda, it is an abundant invasive species
there. It is presumed to have arrived in North America from
Bermuda, resulting in its common name.[citation needed]
The blades are a grey-green colour and are short, usually 2
15 cm (0.795.9 in) long with rough edges.[1] The erect stems
can grow 130 cm (0.3912 in) tall. The stems are slightly
flattened, often tinged purple in colour. The seed heads are
produced in a cluster of two to six spikes together at the top
of the stem, each spike 25 cm (0.792.0 in) long. [1] It has a
deep root system; in drought situations with penetrable soil,
the root system can grow to over 2 m deep, though most of
the root mass is less than 60 cm under the surface. The

grass creeps along the ground and roots wherever a node

touches the ground, forming a dense mat. C. dactylon
reproduces through seeds, runners, and rhizomes. Growth
begins at temperatures above 15 C (59 F) with optimum
growth between 24 and 37 C (75 and 99 F); in winter, the
grass becomes dormant and turns brown. Growth is
promoted by full sun and retarded by full shade, e.g., close
to tree trunks
Paspalum notatum, also known as Bahia Grass, Common
Bahia, or Pensacola Bahia, is a tropical to subtropical
perennial grass (family Poaceae). It is notable for its
prominent dual, V-shaped inflorescence consisting of two
spike-like racemes containing multiple tiny spikelets, each
about 2.8-3.5 mm long.
This grass is low-growing and creeping with stolons and
stout, scaly rhizomes. Stolons are pressed firmly to the
ground, have short internodes, and root freely from the
nodes forming a dense sod. The flat, tough-textured leaves
are usually hairless, with blades 26 mm wide. They are flat,
folded, and inrolled, tapering to a fine point. The leaf bases
at the terminus of each rhizome usually have a purplish hue.
Stems usually reach 2075 cm tall.
The terminal dual racemes are each attached to the top of a
slender stem or with one slightly below the other.
Infrequently, there may be a third present below the terminal
ones. The spikelets closely overlap in two rows. They are
broad, rounded, smooth and shiny. Inside each spikelet is a
tiny flower. The tiny, black, featherlike stigmas and black
stamens can be seen dangling at the tips of these flowers.
Bahia grass is native to Mexico and South America, but has
been naturalized in North America and other places. It
prefers sandy soils and is tolerant of shade. It is also fairly
hardy, tolerating salty conditions and drought extremely
well. Plants seed from June to November.

This grass is used primarily as a forage. The nutritive value

remains high when mature, but it is not very productive. It is
also valued as an erosion-controlling soil stabilizer, as well as
for its productivity, ease of establishment and persistence. It
makes a relatively low-maintenance turfgrass as well, with
less disease and insect problems than some of the other
warm season grasses.
Axonopus is a genus of grasses known generally as
carpetgrass. They are native to the tropical and subtropical
regions of the Americas.[1] They are sometimes rhizomatous
and many are tolerant of periodic submersion.
Selected species:
Axonopus affinis - narrowleaf carpetgrass
Axonopus aureus - golden carpetgrass
Axonopus compressus - broadleaf carpetgrass
Axonopus fissifolius - common carpetgrass
Axonopus furcatus - big carpetgrass
Sorghum halepense, commonly called Johnsongrass, is a
plant in the grass family, Poaceae, native to the
Mediterranean region, but growing throughout Europe and
the Middle East. The plant has been introduced to all
continents except Antarctica, and most larger islands and
archipelagos. It reproduces by rhizomes and seeds.
Johnsongrass has been used for forage and to stop erosion,
but it is often considered a weed for the following reasons:
1. Foliage that becomes wilted from frost or hot dry
weather can contain sufficient amounts of hydrogen
cyanide to kill cattle and horses if it is eaten in quantity.

2. The foliage can cause 'bloat' in such herbivores from

the accumulation of excessive nitrates; otherwise, it is
edible.
3. It grows and spreads so quickly that it can 'choke out'
other cash crops that have been planted by farmers.
This species occurs in crop fields, pastures, abandoned
fields, rights-of-way, forest edges, and along streambanks. It
thrives in open, disturbed, rich, bottom ground, particularly
in cultivated fields. Johnsongrass resistant to the popular
herbicide glyphosate has been found in Argentina and the
United States.[1][2][3] It is considered to be one of the ten worst
weeds in the world.[4]
It is named after an Alabama plantation owner, Colonel
William Johnson, who sowed its seeds on river-bottom farm
circa 1840. The plant was already established in several US
states a decade earlier, having been introduced as a
prospective forage or accidentally as a seedlot contaminant
Dallisgrass: Paspalum dilatatum
Weed Description: A clump-forming perennial with a tall
membranous ligule and a seedhead with many finger-like
branches. Dallisgrass is primarily a weed of turfgrass and
lawns, but also occurs in pastures, roadsides, and occasionally
agronomic crops.
Identifying Characteristics: A perennial grass with short
rhizomes, a tall ligule, and leaves with hairs near the collar
only. The seedhead of dallisgrass may be confused with that of
Broadleaf Signalgrass (Brachiaria platyphylla), however
broadleaf signalgrass has much shorter, wider leaves and a
much shorter ligule that is a fringe of hairs.
Signal grass
(Brachiaria decumbens)

trailing perennial

 tolerates heavy grazing

for wide range of soils, but not waterlogging
difficult to combine with legumes
very responsive to good fertility.
Brachiaria decumbens Stapf 1 Habit leafy stems; 2 inflorescence.
Signal grass (cv. Basilisk) is a low-growing decumbent
perennial, with trailing stems that root at the nodes. It forms
a dense soil cover, with a canopy usually under 40 cm when
grazed.
Signal grass is well adapted to a wide range of soils in the
humid and sub-humid (down to 1000 mm annual rainfall)
tropics, but also grows well in the coastal subtropics showing
some tolerance of drought and cold. However, it cannot
tolerate waterlogging for more than a short time, and
Brachiaria humidicola is more suitable under these
conditions.
The dense cover of signal grass gives relatively weed-free
pastures, but also prevents good compatability with twining
or erect legumes. The most compatible legumes are the
creeping hetero (Desmodium heterophyllum), which has to
be planted with cuttings, and the forage peanuts (Arachis
pintoi).
Intensive grazing gives the best performance with high
animal output as old leaf is not allowed to accumulate. Cool
season pasture production can be increased by applying 100
kg/ha nitrogen at the end of autumn.
Freshly harvested seed is dormant and should not be planted
in that season. The large seed of signal grass establishes
more easily than other small-seeded tropical pastures, and
may allow rougher seed-beds.

Signal grass seedlings are tolerant to a pre-emergence

application of atrazine
Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare)
Buffelgrass is a shrubby grass to 1.5 feet tall and 3 feet
wide. It looks like a bunchgrass when small (either a seedling
or recently burned, grazed, or cut). Older plants branch
profusely and densely at nodes, giving mature plants a
messy appearance. These nodal branches produce new
leaves and flower spikes very quickly after light rains,
making buffelgrass an extremely prolific seed producer.
Some native grasses such as Arizona cottontop (Digitaria
californica) branch sparsely and do not appear shrubby. Bush
muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri) is a true densely-branched
shrub; it differs from buffelgrass in its very delicate texture.
Chloris gayana is a species of grass known by the common
name Rhodes grass. It is native to Africa but it can be
found throughout the tropical and subtropical world as a
naturalized species.
It can grow in many types of habitat. It is also cultivated in
some areas as a palatable graze for animals and a
groundcover to reduce erosion and quickly revegetate
denuded soil.[1] It is tolerant of moderately saline and
alkaline soils and irrigation.[2]
Description
This is a perennial grass which can reach one half to nearly
three meters in height and spreads via stolons. It forms tufts
and can spread into wide monotypic stands. The
inflorescence is a single or double whorl of fingerlike
racemes up to 15 centimeters long. Each spikelet in the
raceme is a few millimeters long and contains one or two
fertile florets and up to four sterile florets
Pangola grass

Scientific name(s)
Digitaria eriantha (formerly Digitaria decumbens)

Strengths
Palatable, productive, persistent
Tolerant of heavy grazing, waterlogging, drought and
fire
Moderately tolerant of soil salinity and high aluminium.
Spreads by runners and competes strongly with weeds
Maintains good nutritive value even at maturity
Limitations
Vegetative planting only
Recorded as having caused big head in horses
Limited cool season growth
Susceptible to pangola stunt virus and rust.
Plant description
Plant: A mat-forming, creeping perennial, spreading by
runners (stolons) that root at the nodes.
Stems: The stolons are often reddish in colour, and tend to
"loop" across the ground. Flowering stems are strawcoloured and grow to about 1.2m tall.
Leaves: Largely hairless, tapering, 10 - 25 cm long and 2 7 mm wide.

Seedhead: The flowering head extends above the leaves,

with one or two rings of radiating branches at the top (cf.
rhodes grass), each branch about 10cm long.
Seeds: Although pangola produces "seedheads", it
produces little (claimed 0.001%) or no viable seed.
Pasture type and use
Used as permanent pasture, mostly for beef production. It
makes excellent hay provided it is leafy and succulent when
cut. It is well-suited to irrigation.
Melinis minutiflora, commonly known as molasses grass,
is a species of grass. It has been weedy in Australia, where it
has been introduced.
Minutiflora Melinis is a Perennial grass of genus Melinis . It is
a native of Africa. It spreads in the form of mat. It presents
stems erect up to 1.5 meters high. The leaves are covered
with fragrant foliage and sticky, reddish inflorescence. It
blooms for short periods. It is believed that the fresh smell
ofM. minutiflora repels insects and snakes.
It was introduced in tropical countries for livestock feed, for
animal husbandry, and soon was naturalized. However, it is
considered a invasive species in many parts of the world, is
relevant to Pacific Islands, provided by the Global
Compendium of Weeds (GCW), including Hawaii, Brazil,
Venezuela, Colombia, and may have contributed to the
disappearance of native species in different regions. It has
been used, yet as pioneer species in poor soil planting and
neutralizes other weeds that may appear.
Exotic grasses are becoming increasingly abundant in
Neotropical savannas, with Melinis minutiflora Beauv. being
particularly invasive. Tested the effect of this species on the
establishment, survival and growth of seedlings of seven
tree species native to the savannas and forests of the
Cerrado region of Brazil. Seeds of the tree species were sown
in 40 study plots, of which 20 were sites dominated by M.

minutiflora, and 20 were dominated by native grasses. The

exotic grass had no discernable effect on initial seedling
emergence, as defined by the number of seedlings present
at the end of the first growing season. Subsequent seedling
survival in plots dominated by M. minutiflora was less than
half that of plots dominated by native species. Consequently,
at the end of the third growing season, invaded plots had
only 44% as many seedlings as plots with native grasses.
Above-ground grass biomass of invaded plots was more than
twice that of uninvaded plots, while seedling survival was
negatively correlated with grass biomass, suggesting that
competition for light may explain the low seedling survival
where M. minutiflora is dominant.
Paspalum is a genus of the grass family (Poaceae).
Commonly known as paspalums, bahiagrasses or dallis
grasses most are tall perennial New World grasses. They are
most diverse in subtropical and tropical regions.
P. scrobiculatum (koda, varuka, varuku, etc.) is a millet
locally grown as food grain. Some species, such as Bahia
Grass (P. notatum) and P. nicorae, are grown for pasturage,
especially with Perennial Forage Peanuts (Arachis glabrata)
as companion crops. Bahiagrass has also some significance
as a honey plant.
Water Finger-grass (P. vaginatum) resembles Bermudagrass
(Cynodon dactylon), but has a higher salinity tolerance and
can consume grey water. It is not infrequently used for arena
and golf course turf in warmer coastal regions, e.g. in Baja
California, Florida, Peru, Texas and Venezuela. Dedicated
paspalum cultivars such as 'Aloha Seashore' or 'Platinum TE'
have been produced for such uses.
Bahiagrasses are also food for caterpillars of Lepidoptera
such as the Pasture Day Moth (Apina callisto), or those of the
Dark Palm Dart (Telicota ancilla) which feed on P. urvillei.
Granivorous birds often eat paspalum seeds; the Chestnutbreasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax) for example is
very fond of those of P. longifolium.

Claviceps paspali is a Claviceps sac fungus that grows on

Paspalum, producing ergot alkaloids and the tremorgen
paspalitrem; it causes "paspalum staggers" poisoning in
cattle. Tussock Paspalum (P. quadrifarium) is considered a
weed in Australia
Characteristics of Kikuyu Grass
Kikuyu grass has been highly popular as a lawn in many
environments in Australia for decades. It is inexpensive to
purchase, require minimal lawn care to remain healthy, and
grows and repairs quickly. However, lawn mowing
frequencies will be higher than for any other turf species,
often requiring lawn mowing every week in Summer. As well
as requiring regular vertimowing to remove thatch build up.
Kikuyu grass is also highly invasive of surrounding garden
beds.
Kikuyu lawn is widely used as the first choice for many
community sporting ovals and schools in many states, the
reasons for this choice are the same as listed in the
attributes just mentioned, but the primary reason for this
lawn choice is it's quick repair capabilities, required by the
oval's use as a sporting venue, or play area.
There is an equal if not greater objection to Kikuyu as their
are proponents. Despite being widely used by Governments
in Australia for sporting areas, Kikuyu grass is generally
listed as a Noxious Weed, not only in Australia, but in many
countries throughout the world.
This reputation is generally deserved, as Kikuyu lawn is
highly invasive of it's surrounding areas, it can creep over
the top of, and cover other plants, killing them not only by
removing it's sunlight, but also by invading it's root zone and
emitting a toxicity to aid in killing it's rivals.
Alfalfa (

/lflf/; Medicago sativa) is a perennial

flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an

important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France,

Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other

countries. The English name is adopted from the Spanish,
originally alfalfez, which in turn is derived from the Arabic alfisfisa "fresh fodder". The Spanish name is widely used,
particularly in the US but it is also known as lucerne in the
UK, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, erba medica
in Italy, meaning medical herb, luzerne in France, and
lucerne grass in South Asian English. It superficially
resembles clover, with clusters of small purple flowers
followed by fruits spiralled in 2 to 3 turns containing 10-20
seeds. Alfalfa has been cultivated by humans since at least
the 4th century CE and has some use in herbal medicine.
Trifolium repens, the white clover (also known as Dutch
clover), is a species of clover native to Europe, North Africa,
and West Asia. It has been widely introduced worldwide as a
pasture crop, and is now also common in most grassy areas
of North America and New Zealand. White clovers are part of
the pea family Fabaceae
The genus name, Trifolium, derives from the Latin tres,
"three", and folium, "leaf", so called from the characteristic
form of the leaf, which has three leaflets (trifoliate); hence
the popular name trefoil.
The species name, repens, is Latin for "creeping".
Growth
It is a herbaceous, perennial plant. It is low growing, with
heads of whitish flowers, often with a tinge of pink or cream
that may come on with the aging of the plant. The heads are
generally 1.52 cm wide, and are at the end of 7 cm
peduncles or flower stalks.[1] The leaves, which by
themselves form the symbol known as shamrock, are
trifoliolate, smooth, elliptic to egg-shaped and long-petioled.
The stems function as stolons, so white clover often forms
mats, with the stems creeping as much as 18 cm a year, and
rooting at the nodes.[1]

Trifolium hybridum, alsike clover, is a plant species of

the genus Trifolium in the pea family Fabaceae. The stalked,
pale pink or whitish flower head grows from the leaf axils,
and the trifoliate leaves are unmarked. The plant is 12 feet
(3060 cm) tall, and is found in fields and on roadsides it is
also grown as fodder (hay or silage). The plant blooms from
spring to autumn (April to October in the northern
hemisphere).[2] Originating in mainland Europe, it has
become established as an introduced plant in the British
Isles[1] and throughout the temperate regions of the world.[3]
Despite its scientific name, alsike clover is not of hybrid
origin. The plant gets its common name from the town of
Alsike in Sweden
Melilotus officinalis, known as the yellow sweet clover,
yellow melilot, ribbed melilot or common melilot is a
species of legume native to Eurasia and introduced in North
America, Africa and Australia.
Melilotus officinalis is biennial plant is 46 feet (1.21.8 m)
high at maturity. The plant has a bitter taste.
It blooms in spring and summer. Flowers are yellow. Its
characteristic sweet odor, intensified by drying, is derived
from coumarin.
Trifolium subterraneum, the Subterranean clover often
shortened to sub clover, is a species of clover native to
northwestern Europe, from Ireland east to Belgium. The
plant's name comes from its underground seed
development, a characteristic not possessed by other
clovers.
It can thrive in poor-quality soil where other clovers cannot
survive, and is grown commercially for animal fodder. There
are three distinct subspecies used in agriculture, each with
its own ideal climate and
soil type, allowing for wide distribution of the plant over
varied environments.

 T. subterraneum subsp. subterraneum is the generalist

subspecies, and it can be grown in the widest range of
environments.
T. subterraneum subsp. yanninicum is grown in moist
areas that are prone to flooding.
T. subterraneum subsp. brachycalycinum is a more
sensitive plant, requiring dry, cracked soil for its
germination.
Some systematists consider the three plants to be separate
species. There are many strains and varieties of these
subspecies, but few are in wide use. The technique of mixing
the subspecies in one field is popular as a method of
ensuring a dense crop. Also, subterranean clover is
sometimes mixed with alfalfa for a longer-lasting grazing
pasture.
This species is self-fertilizing, unlike most legume forage
crops such as alfalfa and other clovers, which are pollinated
by insects, especially honeybees. The flowers of subclover
are often located beneath its leaves and are low in nectar,
making access both difficult and unappealing for bees. These
characteristics also make the plant less attractive to certain
types of pest insects.
Subterranean clover is one of the most commonly grown
forage crops in Australia.[1] It is also grown in places such as
California and Texas, where the extreme ranges of soil type
and quality, rainfall, and temperature make the variable
tolerances of subclover especially useful
Lespedeza is a genus of some 40 species (including
nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family
(Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or
(particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers. The
genus is native to warm temperate to subtropical regions of
eastern North America, eastern and southern Asia and
Australasia.These shrubby plants or trailing vines belong to

the "typical" legumes (Faboideae) like peas and beans,

though within these they are part of another tribe, the
Desmodieae. Therein, they are treated as type genus of the
smaller subtribe Lespedezinae, which unites the present
genus and its presumed closest relatives, Campylotropis and
Kummerowia
KudzuPueraria lobatais a plant in the genus Pueraria in
the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is a
climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan
and southeast China. Its name comes from the Japanese
name for the plant, KuzuWhere it occurs as an invasive
species it is considered a noxious weed that climbs over
trees or shrubs and grows so rapidly that it kills them by
heavy shading.[1] The plant is edible, but often sprayed with
herbicides.Kudzu spreads by vegetative expansion, via
stolons (runners) that root at the nodes to form new plants
and by rhizomes. Kudzu will also spread by seeds, which are
contained in pods and mature in the autumn, although this is
rare.[citation needed] One or two viable seeds are produced per
cluster of pods. The hard-coated seeds may not germinate
for several years, which can result in the reappearance of
the species years after it was thought eradicated at a site
Perennial peanut, also referred to as ornamental peanut, is
closely related to the common peanut (Arachis hypogaea)
with which we are all familiar. However, it cannot be used to
make peanut butter because no nuts are produced. Take
heart, though, if edible qualities are to be considered. The
yellow flowers add a nutty flavor and crunchy texture to
salads and stir fries.
Perennial peanut does well in the lower regions of the South
(Zones 8b to 11), extending from southeast Texas and
around the coastal areas to southeast North Carolina. They
are particularly well suited to the hot climate and sandy soils
found in most of the region. Since their introduction in 1936,
these Brazilian natives have performed admirably. Tolerance
of salt spray, salt drift, and temporary flooding by salt water

makes it even more suitable in areas where salt-laden

breezes sweep in constantly from the Gulf of Mexico.
Perennial peanut is frequently used as an ornamental
groundcover. During the summer, a thick mat about six
inches high out competes most weeds and undesirable
plants and adds a sprinkling of attractive, yellow flowers. In
places with winter frosts, the tops get killed to the ground.
However, the plants re-emerge the following spring provided
the rhizomes are not frozen. If a green cover is desired
during the winter months in the northern portions of its
range, overseeding with annual ryegrass will achieve the
desired effect.
Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is a flowering plant in the
genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes), native to
the eastern Mediterranean.
It is an annual climbing plant, growing to a height of 12
meters (nearly six feet and six inches), where suitable
support is available. The leaves are pinnate with two leaflets
and a terminal tendril, which twines around supporting
plants and structures helping the sweet pea to climb. The
flowers are purple, 2-3.5 centimeters broad, in the wild plant,
larger and very variable in colour in the many cultivars.
The annual species, L. odoratus, may be confused with the
everlasting pea, L. latifolius, a perennial.[
Gliricidia sepium, often simply referred to as Gliricidia
(common names: Mata Ratn; Cacao de nance, Cachanance,
it is commonly known as "Madreado" in Honduras; Kakawate
in the Philippines; Madre Cacao or Madre de Cacao in the
Philippines and Guatemala; and Madero negro in Nicaragua),
is a medium size leguminous tree belonging to the family
Fabaceae. It is considered as the second most important
multi-purpose legume tree, surpassed only by Leucaena
leucocephala.[1]

Gliricidia sepium is a medium-sized tree and can grow to

from 10 to 12 meters high. The bark is smooth and its color
can range from a whitish gray to deep red-brown. It has
composite leaves that can be 30 cm long. Each leaf is
composed of leaflets that are about 2 to 7 cm long and 1 to
3 cm wide. The flowers are located on the end of branches
that have no leaves. These flowers have a bright pink to lilac
color that is tinged with white. A pale yellow spot is usually
at the flower's base. The tree's fruit is a pod which is about
10 to 15 cm in length. It is green when unripe and becomes
yellow-brown when it reaches maturity. The pod produces 4
to 10 round brown seeds . The tree grows well in acidic soils
with a pH of 4.5-6.2. The tree is found on volcanic soils in its
native range in Central America and Mexico. However, it can
also grow on sandy, clay and limestone soils.
The turnip or white turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) is a
root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates
worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender
varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger
varieties are grown as feed for livestock.[citation needed]
In the north of England and Scotland, the name turnip,
shortened to "neeps", often refers to the larger, yellow
rutabaga root vegetable which is also known as the "swede"
(from "Swedish turnip").
The most common type is mostly white-skinned apart from
the upper 16 centimeters, which protrude above the ground
and are purple, red, or greenish wherever sunlight has fallen.
This above-ground part develops from stem tissue, but is
fused with the root. The interior flesh is entirely white. The
entire root is roughly conical, but can be occasionally global,
about 520 centimeters in diameter, and lacks side roots.
The taproot (the normal root below the swollen storage root)
is thin and 10 centimeters or more in length; it is trimmed off
before marketing. The leaves grow directly from the aboveground shoulder of the root, with little or no visible crown or
neck (as found in rutabagas).[citation needed]

Turnip leaves are sometimes eaten as "turnip greens"

("turnip tops" in the UK), and they resemble mustard greens
in flavor. Turnip greens are a common side dish in
southeastern US cooking, primarily during late fall and
winter. Smaller leaves are preferred; however, any bitter
taste of larger leaves can be reduced by pouring off the
water from initial boiling and replacing it with fresh water.
Varieties specifically grown for the leaves resemble mustard
greens more than those grown for the roots, with small or no
storage roots. Varieties of B. rapa that have been developed
only for the use of leaves are called Chinese cabbage. Both
leaves and root have a pungent flavor similar to raw
cabbage or radishes that becomes mild after cooking.
Turnip roots weigh up to about one kilogram, salthough they
can be harvested when smaller. Size is partly a function of
variety and partly a function of the length of time the turnip
has grown. Most very small turnips (also called baby
turnips) are specialty varieties. These are only available
when freshly harvested and do not keep well. Most baby
turnips can be eaten whole, including their leaves. Baby
turnips come in yellow-, orange-, and red-fleshed varieties as
well as white-fleshed. Their flavor is mild, so they can be
eaten raw in salads like radishes and other vegetables.
Buckwheat refers to several species of plants in the dicot
family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, the
North American genus Eriogonum, and the Northern
Hemisphere genus Fallopia. Either of the latter two may be
referred to as "wild buckwheat." Despite the name,
buckwheats are not related to wheat, as they are not cereals
/ grasses (family Poaceae); instead, buckwheat is related to
sorrels, knotweeds, and rhubarb.
The cultivation of buckwheat grain, a pseudocereal food
crop, declined sharply in the 20th century in affluent regions
where the usage of nitrogen fertilizer is popular.
Comfrey (also comphrey) is an important herb in organic
gardening. It is used as a fertilizer and as an herbal

medicine. The main species used now is Symphytum

uplandicum or Russian comfrey, a hybrid between
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey) and Symphytum
asperum (rough comfrey).
Description
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) is a perennial herb of
the family Boraginaceae with a black, turnip-like root and
large, hairy broad leaves that bears small bell-shaped
flowers of various colours, typically cream or purplish, which
may be striped. It is native to Europe, growing in damp,
grassy places, and is locally frequent throughout Ireland and
Britain on river banks and ditches. More common is the
hybrid between S. officinale and S. asperum, Symphytum
uplandicum, known as Russian Comfrey, which is widespread
in the British Isles, and which interbreeds with S. officinale.
Compared to S. officinale, S. uplandicum is generally more
bristly and has flowers which tend to be more blue or violet